I am so glad they did because the work we do in the interfaith arena is tough and necessary work.
While the team of events planners for the recent Loudoun Interfaith
BRIDGES ‘Day of Thanks’ hustled through the last minute preparations, a
pained and struggling man who happened to be Muslim opened fire on
American soldiers in Fort Hood Texas. We were ready for our event, but
suddenly it seemed like everything had changed … had it? We received a
call from a man concerned about safety. Some of the event planners
emailed back and forth considering the call to have an officer of the
law present at the Day of Thanks. One of us finally reached out to our
Muslim brothers and sisters. What did they think we should do?
What we heard in return was pain. “Now you know what we experience all
the time. The assumption is – if Muslims are present, there is danger.”
I reached out immediately to apologize and share my regrets. Nothing I
could say was enough simply because the issue at hand was far too large
to be addressed in one conversation between two individuals. The
conversation needs to be shared in our society at large. It is a
conversation about fear and prejudice, about violence and how to
respond to violent acts, about assumptions and about the pain they
cause.
Every time a Muslim individual does something violent, American Muslims
send out email messages and press releases that condemn the
individual’s actions and offer prayers for peace. Muslim leaders are
expected to do this. They are expected to apologize as Muslims for the
sins of the few individuals who use their faith to justify horrendous
acts.
This fact fills me with sorrow. How can we transform our world into a
place where the horrendous acts of a few do not cause us to fear, hate,
or shame a whole community of faithful, loving, beautiful people? I
believe we are called to this work as a religious community of open
hearts and open minds. I believe it is also some of what calls us to be
a member congregation of BRIDGES. Let us be vigilant in this work
together. Please let me know if you would like to be more involved in
the work of BRIDGES.
In closing I would like to share the words I used to open our Loudoun Interfaith Bridges Day of Thanks on November 8th:
Welcome to this place of fellowship and peace.
Welcome to this space carved by the noblest of intentions.
Welcome to this community that gathers to mourn together any loss
brought forth by a violent act – such as the murders of American
soldiers in Fort Hood Texas.
Welcome to this place where no one will be singled out and disrespected for their faith.
Welcome to this place were we gather to grieve shared loss – loss that
we all bear as citizens who care for one another, for our country, and
for our world.
Welcome to this space where in our shared grieving we may find healing – not separately, but together.
Welcome to this interfaith community that knows all faith is sustained by our ability to love one another.
Welcome – whomever you are, wherever you come from, whatever you are
looking for – Welcome – may you find a space here to be fully yourself,
in grief, in love, in fellowship.
It is good and it is so necessary, in this time, to be together. I
recognize that the material in this column is delicate and I welcome
any conversation you would like to have with me.
